Insurance Group: 49
MPG: 26.2
CO2: 254
0-62 Mph: 5.0 secs
BHP: 400 BHP
Range: 576 miles
PROS: The Panamera offers a little more practicality than the average 2 seat Porsche, while still boasting a great driving experience and a comfortable and classy cabin too.
CONS: The price to be paid for the extra practicality is seen in the purchase price and the running costs, and the back seats still aren’t particularly easy to use and suffer slightly in terms of space.
The Panamera is a wonderful driver’s car that offers steering that is accurate and has plenty of feedback allowing the car to really eat up a twisty road with pleasure. The ride is generally supple but can feel a little firm when you take the Panamera to the city streets, but the handling is what really makes the Panamera so special. Inside the cabin the steering wheel is fully adjustable and the driving seat has electric adjustment making it quick and easy to find a comfortable driving position, while the visibility is good to the front and the rear.
Engine performance is a strong point with this model, as acceleration from 0-62mph is achieved in a swift 5.0 seconds. The top speed of 175mph is ample and significantly more than the average family car, while the refinement in the cabin of the Panamera is excellent, blocking out all wind and road noise.
The Panamera may have had to make some sacrifices in order to accommodate four doors, but these do not affect the typical Porsche style which is seen in the model. The bulging headlights pop up to each side of the bonnet, and although the car may be a little longer to accommodate the rear seats, the lines are still sleek and smooth, while the roof slants towards the rear of the car. Inside the cabin the seats are classy and comfortable, and the centre console does look good, although the number of switches can be impractical to use while driving.
The level of equipment included with the car is also very good, with alloy wheels being typical in a Porsche, but this car also has leather seats included as standard. Technology fans will be pleased to see satellite navigation and a DVD player included in the car as standard, and it also comes with power heated seats, cruise control and climate control.
The Porsche Panamera is a car that offers more practicality than the standard two-seater, but equally it doesn’t have the space you’d find in a saloon car. The boot is reasonably sized, but taller passengers in the rear seats may find the lack of headroom to be an issue. The Panamera enjoys the excellent reliability record that is to be found in other Porsches, which is certainly reassuring for anyone purchasing this model.
The safety features to be found in the Panamera are very good, with a number of airbags that will look after the driver and the passengers in case of an accident. It also benefits from a range of driving aids that are also found in the rest of the Porsche range, that help to keep the Panamera stable and easy to control on the road.
One of the problems that many people will find with the Panamera is that the premium that you will have to pay for the practicality of four seats is significant, with this model having a list price of £83,280. There are some models available for less money, and many people will find the smaller 3.6 litre petrol option or the 3.0 litre diesel to be a more practical option.
The running costs of the Panamera aren’t cheap, with the 4.8 litre engine able to deliver an average 26.2mpg. The high insurance group means that premiums won’t be a great source of comfort, but one benefit is that Porsche cars do have a good resale value because of their desirability. The Panamera comes with three years’ roadside breakdown assistance, and it also has a three year unlimited mileage warranty.
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